please read - need second opinion on cat with wobbly hindquarters

Within the last week, my 9-year-old domestic shorthair tabby has become extremely lethargic and in the past day, her rear legs are wobbly when she walks. She still has her appetite and is using the litterbox although she has been having accidents, I think mostly because of the weakness in her legs (meaning she goes in the box but it leaks over the edge). We were suspecting feline diabetes but when we took her to the vet this morning, they said that her liver felt big. An X-ray showed her liver and spleen are slightly enlarged and the vet interpreted this to mean cancer. They told us we could pay a lot more money for an ultrasound that would diagnose her for sure but we opted not to.

Several years ago, my cat was having trouble with a chronically infected anal gland  and this same vet told us she likely had cancer. It ended up not being the case--I switched her to a grain-free diet and she's been fine ever since. So I am skeptical of this recent diagnosis. Clearly, something serious is wrong with my cat, but I researched her symptoms and they don't sound like cancer to me. Would you recommend going to another vet for a second opinion? Thank you!

Did the vet run any blood tests or urinalysis? Diabetes is pretty easy to diagnose with those tests which aren't that expensive. I would run those tests first. Liver issues would also show up on blood tests to some extent. If diabetes is not the problem, then you can decide if the ultrasound is warranted.

They did not do either. After viewing the X-ray, the vet said that she didn't need bloodwork to confirm. We actually had blood work done in August (they recommended it as a baseline because of her age) and it was mostly normal. Some elevated antibodies due to allergies, they said.

I would recommend having bloodwork done, blood values change every 24 hours and something is definitely off with your kitty.  If you aren't satisfied with the diagnosis get a 2nd opinion.

Thank you. I am just curious if this sounds like it could be cancer. Does it manifest this way? Kitty seems fine otherwise except for the wobbly rear legs and has even been less lethargic, although that may just be the steroids they gave her. I don't want to miss treating something serious but treatable like diabetes if the vet was wrong.

It's really hard to say. Cancer can manifest in different ways, depending on type, where it is, how far it has advanced, etc. It sounds to me that you really do not trust this vet given the misdiagnosis in the past. I would recommend a second opinion with full bloodwork and urinalysis which will tell you if it's diabetes or thyroid problems. Again, if those tests do not reveal anything, then you can decide if an ultrasound is warranted.

I would definitely get a blood test done.  The weakness/wobbly hind legs could be something as simple as low potassium.  But as mentioned above, blood work can change overnight, and it's really good that you  had a baseline done in August, so if there is a change, you will have something to compare it to.  If you can, I would go to a different Vet, but I would get a copy of those August blood tests to take to the new Vet.

that it isn't something too serious. 

Unfortunately I have heard of wobbly legs being a sign of cancer. As others have mentioned, though, it can be something else. Diabetes often presents the same way.  At your cat's age check-ups are recommended every 6 months since cats age more rapidly than we do. So I, too, would recommend bloodwork.

If I understand the post correctly, all they have is an, I don't know. Nothing they have done yet, says, yes, this is cancer.

An enlarged liver, is just possible liver issues, and yes, an ultrasound would tell them that, I have been that route, and if it is just liver issues, it is correctable.

I agree with the others, I would start with the CBC and Wellness Blood Panel, but I would ask for the Senior Panel, given your kitties age.  If it is liver issues, the ALT value will be elevated, normal is 10-100, my kitty was 917, and they fixed her. The BUN and Creatine levels may possibly be off too, hers weren't. 

Being what happened the first time, and being that he/she is too quick to say cancer, without doing any tests, that say, yes it is, I would look for another vet. 

Any test they take, they should give you a copy of the results, all they do is photocopy it. They should have given you a copy of the blood panel, if they didn't, ask for it, if they say no, insist, its your kitty, you paid for the test. 

Ask the vet, the new one, if he/she uses Antech or Idexx. I don't know about Idexx, but Antech has specialists there that help your vet with diagnosis and treatment, and the vet should have been right on the phone with them, the fact that he/she didn't would cause me concern. 

Best of luck.      

Was the cat checked for FIV and FELV?  I would re-check and do a full CBC.

A quick google search says hepatosplenomegaly (enlarged liver and spleen) is usually associated with FIV or FELV, or lymphoma

I would just like to thank everyone who responded. To update, I never had time for a second opinion. By Saturday evening, things had deteriorated to the point where she couldn't walk. The next morning she could not even sit up for long. It was heartbreaking to watch her suffer so we contacted a vet who does in-home euthanasia and he was able to come by the early afternoon. He agreed that she was beyond help and had a very distended stomach and liver. She was eating and alert right up until the end though.

I am still struggling with losing her as she was my first pet and still young and healthy up until now. She just had a full checkup and blood work in August. Thank you all for your help.

This is truly heartbreaking. I am so very sorry for your loss.  

So sorry for you. Just know that your kitty is in a better place and not suffering anymore.

I'm so sorry

I'm very sorry for your loss and would like to extend the sympathies of the entire TCS team. When you feel up to it, perhaps you'd like to post a tribute to her in the Crossing the Bridge forum. A link to that thread can be posted here, so that people can express their condolences.